Bale loader



E. F. SIMS Aug. 8, 1950 BALE LOADER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 14, 1946F. SIMS E LOADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1946 E. F. SIMS BALELOADER Aug. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1946 fideizfo 7.

W/Z. W

. ferred to a truckor wagon. r;

.Generally speaking, the purpose tion is to provide a sturdy compactmechanism .of simple construction which efficiently will pick PatentedAug. 8, 1950 [UNITED I STATES PATENT oFFlcE 1' z F Q 2,51s,0ss

' BALE LOADER J Edward F. Sims, Blue Island, Ill. Application February14, 1946, Serial N0. 647,521

A My invention contemplates and provides "new sothat such balesconveniently may be -transof my inv nup and elevate-baled farm producewhich is to be loaded onto a truck for wagon w-hichiit accomdriver. ofthe truck or wagon. 1 I

A featurev of myinvention is the'provision, in

. a' bale loader, ofan improved: elevator-conveyor mechanism comprisingaroller and a plurality of sets of tines moving in a pathextendingclosely adjacent to and partially around the roller whichcooperate in a novel manner to effectuate the lifting off the ground andthe elevating of: bales disposed lengthwise of a path in which the}loader is moving; I

Another object of my invention is the provision,

in a bale loader having an elevator-conveyor of the kind brieflydescribed in the last preceding paragraph, of skids leading theaforesaid roller and a castertrailing such roller, and a non-rigidconnection between-the loader and its accompanying truck or wagon, whichskids, caster and a connection cooperate always properly to present theaforesaid tinesand such roller to-abale rel gardless of contiguoushighand low spots on or narrow ditches ,or trenches ;in the ground overwhich the truck and loader move as the loader approaches the bale.

' Other objects, features and advantages of my :invention will beapparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, inwhich I similar characters of reference indicate similar' partsthroughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig.1, is a side elevational view of- :bale

V loader;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevationalyiewy of the ,jaw clutch mechanismtaken on the line 2- -2 of I Fig.3v alfront elevational view of myloader;

. Fig. 4 is asectional view of the bale elevatorconveyortaken on theline 4-4 of Fig. 1;,

. Fig-5 is an enlarged side .view of one; barand r H2 Ql airns. (-01.195-9) 2 Fig. 6 is a top plan: view of my loader; v 1

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the front ba and bracket forattaching m loader to a truck or wagon; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the rear bar and bracket. l

As generally shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, the loader 20 is attached to abody 21 of a conventional truck which my loader advantageously may beemployed in an adj unctive capacity.

.Considered generally, the loader includes, a

.main frame 23 and an elevator-conveyor mechanism 24 carried by the mainframe 23. The main frame preferably is provided with a pair of frame andelevator-conveyor mechanism is supported. Secured to theelevator-conveyor mechanism 24, intermediate the ends thereof, is acaster 21, preferably of the swivel type, to facilitate turning of theloader while being moved'by the truck.

- Considering the various parts of the loader'in greater detail, themain frame 23 desirably includes parallel side members 28, crosstie3-Iand diagonal cross braces 29 and 38 running between secured to thecrosstie 3|.

: The caster 2'! is provided with a yoke'.32 to which stud shaft 33 iswelded. Such stud shaft is .;journaled in a suitable bearing 34 which issecured by bolting or welding to U-shaped bracket 35.

7 preferably having angularly shaped side members Hand 38 which are bestillustrated inFigs. l and4. Bars39, secured tothe vertical flanges ofthe side members 31 and 38 by welding'or othersuitable means, carryguides 40 and ll which'preferablyare made of wood and prevent escape-ofhales from, theconveyor while being elevated.

Floor boards 42 and 43,,whose, function presently will be mentioned, arecarried by the horizontal .-fi anges of thegside members 31 and 38,respecv l a H The elevator-conveyor mechanism 24, .com-

Qprises a .pair-oflinkbelt steel chains {M and d5,

erossbars '15 has welded thereto and extending at right angles therefroma set of spaced-apart tines 4?. I have shown only two tines fixedlysecured to each of the crossbars 46; however, any number may beemployed, the number of tines employed being dependent upon the size andother characteristics of the bales to be loaded.

Chains 44 and 55 are arranged to run over lower and upper pairs ofsprocket ,wvheels 42?. and 68, respectively. The upper sprocket Wheels48 are mounted on a shaft 49 journaled in bearings, preferably of theanti-friction type, carried by the upper end portions of theconveyorffnanie 36, and the lower sprocket wheels A! are mounted on ashaft 59 journaled in bearings'alsopreferably of the anti-frictionetype,,earriedrhyithe lower end portions of the conveyor frame.

At its upper end, the conveyor frameSFis-supported by upwardly extendingmembers 5| of the main frame 23. At their lower ends, the

members fil are welded rto-:pamallel:-:side members At their upper ends,t'he members =L5l are bolted to gusset plate 52 which is wvel'ded to theupperend portions-of the-side members 4 3-1 :and 38. The free ends ofthe side members 28nd the -main frame .23 care bolte'd 1 to lithe-sidememfibers 3'! and 33 oftheconveyorframe iifi asi isbest illustrated in'Fig. 1, and caster-carrying bracket 35" isalso bolted *to 'the side 1members 3'? ar-M 38 intermediate :the ends thereo'f. Theretore, theentire elevator-conveyor mechanism :easily can be demounte'd from themain frame and the oaster-carryin g bracket -can be demounted -from theconveyor frame "to facilitateshipment or storage.

'The -prev-iousl-y 'mentioned fioor boards 42 -and 43 provide supportfor Lt'he upper stretches :of chains 1 4 and intermediate the uppersprockets '48 and the" lower spro'chetszdl.

Adjustment of slack in the "chains- 4A and 4 is accomplished -by take-up'rrnechanisms deSignated= in their entirety =by the' numeral53 an'd-located adjacent the lower portions of the 'side members 31 and 38.Other forrns pf -take-up meehanism may 'be: employed,

I Although -a take-up I mechanism is provided at eaeh enld elf-theshafted, it is deemed-suflicient to "describe-only one in detail.Referring to 1, the take-up mechanism $3 includes channel member 54which is securedtothe lower'endpor- "tion ofside member *38byibo'ltingor: other suitable :means, and acts as -*-an extension ofsaid side member. Block fiii -is =carried bysa-idchannelmember and haswelded or otherwise secured thereto a fixed nut 55 and also has anaper-ture through -Whi'Ch' lJhQ threaded memlber 57 r is extended. Theend-of the threaried member is adapted-to engage the housing of thebearing of the lower shaft *5?) and hold it in ade'sire'd position.Therefore, by turning the threaded member,the'lower-shaft can be moved,'thereby taking up slack in the ehains M and 45.

At theupper or dischargeeendozf .the elevaton eonveyorrneehanism,platform 60 is l provided "to receive the bales fromtheconveyor.Platform =50, from "which the 'bales easily "may' be removed and placedon the truck, is secured at one end to the-gusset plate -52 andits-other end is supported by diagonal braces 6|. Platform Bilcomprisesa floor -GZ and a *rail fiii having a'culrved portion adjacentits rear end to the 'bales toward the truck. See- Fig. 6.

Power to drive the elevator-conveyor -is-cbtained' from the rearwheel'dfi, --which' is-'best depicted in Fig. l. The drive mechanismincludes a lower sheave 64, which suitably is mounted on the inner sideof the rear wheel 26, an upper sheave E5 of smaller diameter than thelower sheave and carried by the shaft 49, and a V-belt 56 trained onsaid sheaves. The V-belt 66 is twisted to obtain proper rotation Olf theupper shaft.

To assure transmission of power, proper fricx-tional engagement of theV-belt 166 .With the sheaves Hand "65 is accomplished by take-up 61.which comprises a sheave 63 upon which the 'v-lbelt is trained, andsheave-carrying bar 69 whose end opposite to the sheave 68 is pivotally.mounted to .the side member 38.

Spr'irrglfl, having one of its ends secured to a rhracket ELI u zcarriedby side member 38 and its other end secured to extension rod 12, thefree "-enfd of'which is secured to the sheave-carrying bar 69, isprovided soithat a tensional force is tr-ansmitted tothe'sheavecanryingdoracket w to --assurei=traction vo'f the wzbelt v66inn the sheaves 84 and .65,' thereby causin-g the uppereshalitttormotatewh ich in turn will operatetthe conveyor.

Clutch mechanism 1.3, -canriedilby the upper shaft 1549, is provided to(disengage the driving mechanism from theshafit 49uwhentthe' loader is-moved backwards, :V-thereby preventing reverse movement of the elevatoreconveyor.

Re'ferring -to Fig. 2; ibest illustrated-the construction of the clutchmechanism 13, the shaft 49 i is extended noutwardly beyon'd Ltheaside-member- 38 and is iournaled in bearings M and '15, preferably of theanti-friction r type. The bearing :14- is oarried' by the .gusset plate52 and the bearing 75 is carried by U shaped bnacketflfi 'whi'ch is-seouredto gusset 1 plate 52 by bolts l6 and: associatedcooperatingmutsflfia. The :clutch comprises a stationar-y5hall? H mounted On andsecured to ashaft tfl bythe :pin 18, and a sliding half 19* formedintegnalnwitmai hub o'f" the sheave 65. 'Such halves areprovided withcooperating spiral jaws 8ll. The slidinghdlfmay assume two positions, anorn 1al position as depicted in full lines, and a clutch disengagingposition shown in dotted lin-es in Fig a Spring B I is provided to urgethe Sliding half izin-to' its normal position. washeri 82 providesla'bearing suri ace ion-one" end of the spring 81, the other en'd of isretained by the .lbraeket '18. W-henever the bale loader is l movedbaehwards,' the v belt drive will "operate il'lFGVGISG. Because *of'theinspiral shape,

' reverse'movement of --the sheavei: will cause the iaws $0 i todisengage and foroe the sliding man i into thertlotted "line position. iThe spring 8 I =wil1 upge the -=sliding -half into its normal position=-when the' '-bale loaider -ivmoved fonward.

The forward or pick-up end of the elevator- *conveyonislocated opposite*the'oab of 'the truck and in r1111 View 'of the 'driver so -that' he'easily may guide the loader to pier: 'up baleso'f f-arm "produce whichpreviously have been dropped "in and lengthwiseof rows 'on the-ground-by-a bali-ng machine.

*Ro11ers 83 -'and 84 "are'rnounted on shafts 49 and 50, respectively.Such rollers are of slightly smaller diameter than =-the sprockets "4iand 48, thereby allowing *thecrossbars i'lito pass around them. Whilepassing around the roller '84, *the tinesflo'f-a crossbarwwillengage-the -ldwenpob -tions ofthe near-end surfaceofabale and willlift the near end of "the 'bale and place it' upon *the "roller 84whereupon the --=rol1er, in copper -t1on with succeeding tine-carryingcross-bars which engage the underside of the bale to-unge it forward,will move the lbale ofi the ground to the "111 elevator-conyeyor. A "ljale. is, ,carried by at least two crossbars46j The forwardcrossbar willpass around the roller: 83 and .thereupon the bale will be supported bythe roller 83;.and'ywill wbe urged forward ,gby the,rear crossbar.until, it is dis charged from'the'elevator ojr'iv'eyo'rto the pla -1- Aforward connecting arm skids 58-and59 mountedfon'the; lowerfo ard end ofthe elevator-convey'on; will adapt the loaderto-uneven farm-land overwhichit will travel, whereby the tines 41, while passing around theroller 84, will assume their proper positions for engaging the lowerportions of the front end wall of a bale irrespective of the uneven farmland. The skids 58 and 59 normally are disposed slightly above theground and only take over when the caster wheel 21 runs into adepression.

The forward connecting arm 85 and the rear connecting arm 86 are bestillustrated in Figs. 5, '7 and 8. Bracket 81 is carried by side member31, and bracket 88 is carried by support member 5|, and brackets 89 and90, which are similar to brackets 81 and 88, are carried by the truckbody 2!. Each end of the arm 85 is provided with an aperture and each ofthe brackets 81 and 89 is provided with a plurality of apertures 93through which bolts 9| and 91a may be placed pivotally to connect eachend of the arm to the respective brackets. constructed similarly to thearm 85 and the brackets 81 and 89 with'the exception that a web 92 isprovided to reinforce the arm 85.

Truck bodies or wagons vary in height and, therefore, the plurality ofapertures in the brackets, through which bolts 9| and Blu selectivelymay be placed, provide for adjustment of the arms to suit the height ofthe vehicle body.

To detach the loader from the truck, it is only necessary to removebolts 9la, thereby disengaging the arms 85 and 86 from the brackets 89and 99 on the truck. The truck can then be used for other purposes.

The operation of the loader is as follows: The loader being attached toa truck, as hereinbefore described, is moved toward a bale 94 by themovement of the truck. The driver of the truck so guides it that theskids 58 and 59 move alongside the bale on opposite sides thereof. Thetines 41 of a first series, i. e., the tines carried by one of thecrossbars 46, while traveling through those curved portions of theirpaths which extend partially around the roller 84, engage the adjacentend of the bale near the bottom of the bale, the engagement of the tines41 of such first series with the bale at points close to but definitelyspaced from the ground, regardless of irregularities in the terrain,being assured by the hereinbefore mentioned cooperation of the skids 58and 59, the caster 21 and the connections comprising the arms 85 and 86which permit independent vertical movements betweenthe loader and thetruck while requiring the loader to travel with the truck. As the tines41 of such first series continue to move around the roller 84, they liftfrom the ground that end of the bale which they have engaged, and theroller 84 moves into the angle between the ground and the bottom of thebale. As the tines 41 of said first series continue their movement theydisengage themselves from Arm 86 and brackets 88 and 98 are lprogressing farther into the angle between "the bale and the ground,'thetines 41 of a" second series and the tines 41 ofa third's'eries'successively strike into the bottom of the bale tocarry it upwardly onthe elevator conve'yor while r'e'sting on two of the tine-carryingcrossbars- 46L] 7 When the leading one 'of the twocr'ossbars'46 on whichthe'balehas reposed passesaro'und the upper roller 83, the bale will besupported bythe roller 83 and will be urged rearwardly of the loader-bythe tines of the other crossbar until it isdischarged from theelevator-conveyor to the platform 50. I i i I K 0 ="The platform 89 isdisposed at a-higherdevd than is thefloor of the truck body. The"ra' il=' 63 guides the balestoward the side of platform 69lying-nearest-"thetruck; whereupon the bales may be removed from theplatform and stacked in the truck by men equipped with hand hooks.

When the truck has been sufficiently loaded, the loader is detached byremoving the bolts 9la, thereby disengaging the arms 85'and 86 from thebrackets 89 and 99 on the truck. The truck then may be used to deliverthe bales and the loader may be left in the field for the next load orthe loader successively may be attached to other trucks.

Having thus illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In a bale loader to accompany a truck or wagon, in combination, anelevator-conveyor mechanism comprising a conveyor frame, a pair of linkbelt chains in spaced relationship to each other and trained onsprockets mounted on an upper shaft and a lower shaft journaled inbearings carried by said frame, crossbars secured to and extendingbetween said chains, a plurality of spaced-apart tines carried by andprojecting at right angles from each of said crossbars, a wedging rollercarried by said lower shaft, said roller being only slightly less indiameter than the sprockets carried by the shaft on which it rolls, saidtine-carrying crossbars traveling in a path extending in immediateproximity to and partially around said roller, and means for supportingthe forward end of said elevator-conveyor mechanism above and relativelyclose to the ground, whereby, during movement of the loader relativelyto a bale, the tines carried by a first one of said crossbars willpenetrate the vertical surface of the near end of the bale at the lowerportion thereof and partially raise said near end of the bale so thatsaid roller may pass therebeneath and then disengage themselves from thebale to permit it to drop onto said roller, whereupon said roller,further raising the bale by moving into the angle between the bale andthe ground, will enable the tines carried by a second crossbar and athird crossbar to penetrate the bottom of the bale for the purpose ofcarrying the bale upwardly of the elevator-conveyor mechanism.

2. In a bale loader for attachment to and accompaniment of a truck orwagon while capable of vertical movements independently thereof, anelevator-conveyor frame downwardly and forwardly inclined, a conveyorbelt operably supported by said frame, spaced-apart sets of tinescarried by and projecting away from the belt, the tines of each setbeing spaced apart transversely of the belt, means for causing the beltto operate when -the r-loa'der moves forwardly, Land means for.-s-upporting the .forward end .of said vframe srelativelyuclose torthe;ground -and at asubstantially uniform distance thereabove irrespectiverofvirregularities of terrain, rsaid' lastr-ment-ioned Vmeans comprisinga caster and skid means said caster being-carried by the forward :partif -the frame and. located lbehind thelowermost portion xt hereofandnorm-ally engaging thepground, said Jskidrmeans being. carried by theforward portion of the framerandextendingrforwardly beyond-the lowermostportion thereof and normally "lying slightlyabove thegground isaid framebeing rigid intermediate the caster and the skid -meansand beingsupported :above the ground by the xskid means when thusrnot supportediby the caster independently .ofxthe skid means.

I EDWARDF. .-=SIMS.

insurances crmn The zforlewmwretenences rare so-f=trecard. .1nrmlm'exiof arms r atent:

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